1Then Elihu went on speaking. He said:
2"Hear my words, you wise men. Listen to me, you who have knowledge."
3For the ear tests words, as the mouth tastes food.
4Let us choose for ourselves what is right. Let us find out among ourselves what is good.
5For Job has said, 'I am righteous, and God has taken away my justice.'
6'Should I lie about my own case? My wound cannot be healed, though I have done no wrong.'
7What man is like Job, who drinks up scorn like water?
8He keeps company with those who do evil, and walks with wicked men.
9For he has said, 'It does a man no good to take delight in God.'
10So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, and far be it from the Almighty to do wrong.
11For he pays back to a man what his work deserves, and makes each man find what his ways have earned.
12Yes, surely God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not twist justice.
13Who put him in charge of the earth? Who set the whole world in order?
14If he set his heart upon man, if he gathered back to himself his spirit and his breath,
15all flesh would die together, and man would return to dust.
16If you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the sound of my words.
17Should one who hates justice rule? Will you condemn him who is most just?
18Is it right to say to a king, 'You are wicked'? Or to princes, 'You are ungodly'?
19How much less to him who shows no favour to princes, and does not think more of the rich than of the poor? For they are all the work of his hands.
20In a moment they die. At midnight the people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away, and no human hand does it.
21For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.
22There is no darkness, and no shadow of death, where those who do evil may hide themselves.
23For he does not lay on a man more than is right, that the man should come before God in judgment.
24He breaks mighty men in pieces, more than can be counted, and sets others in their place.
25So he knows their works. He overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
26He strikes them as wicked men, where others can see it,
27because they turned away from following him, and would not give thought to any of his ways.
28So they made the cry of the poor come up to him, and he hears the cry of those who suffer.
29When he gives quietness, who then can bring trouble? When he hides his face, who then can see him? He does this whether it is to a whole nation or to one man alone,
30so that the hypocrite may not rule, and the people may not be trapped.
31Surely it is fitting to say to God, 'I have taken my punishment. I will not offend any more.
32Teach me what I do not see. If I have done wrong, I will do it no more.'
33Should God repay on your terms? Yet he will repay, whether you refuse or whether you choose; it is not for me to say. So tell me what you know.
34Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man listen to me.
35Job has spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
36My desire is that Job may be tested to the end, because he answers like wicked men.
37"For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and piles up his words against God."